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Re: Obama Dismisses 'Fuss' About Libya Battle

yesterday:

Air Force and Navy aircraft are still flying hundreds of strike missions over Libya despite the Obama administration’s claim that American forces are playing only a limited support role in the NATO operation.

An Africa Command (AFRICOM) spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday that since NATO’s Operation Unified Protector (OUP) took over from the American-led Operation Odyssey Dawn on March 31, the U.S. military has flown hundreds of strike sorties. Previously, Washington had claimed that it was mostly providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and tanker support to NATO forces operating over Libya.

“U.S. aircraft continue to fly support [ISR and refueling] missions, as well as strike sorties under NATO tasking,” AFRICOM spokeswoman Nicole Dalrymple said in an emailed statement. “As of today, and since 31 March, the U.S. has flown a total of 3,475 sorties in support of OUP. Of those, 801 were strike sorties, 132 of which actually dropped ordnance.”

A White House report on Libya sent to Congress on June 15 says that “American strikes are limited to the suppression of enemy air defense and occasional strikes by unmanned Predator UAVs against a specific set of targets.” The report also says the U.S. provides an “alert strike package.”

Dalrymple named the Air Force’s F-16CJ and Navy’s EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft as the primary platforms that have been suppressing enemy air defenses.

Re: Obama Dismisses 'Fuss' About Libya Battle

today:

[T]he longer this conflict goes on, the more desperate the protagonists have become to extricate themselves from a war that is – in the words of Admiral Mike Mullen, America’s highest-ranking military officer – “in a stalemate”.

The reality is that, unless there is a dramatic change by this weekend, the military campaign will run into the sand: with the entire Libyan population observing a strict Ramadan fast, neither Nato nor the rebels will be able to make a decisive breakthrough. So the most likely outcome of the conflict will be Gaddafi retaining control of Tripoli and its environs, and Nato’s credibility lying in tatters.

Re: Obama Dismisses 'Fuss' About Libya Battle

You know, if we had stood up this way 8 years ago, we wouldn't have ended up wasting time and resources on a war we didn't need to fight - Iraq. So I must ask, IS politics involved here? It's a fair question.

Re: Obama Dismisses 'Fuss' About Libya Battle

“The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

"As Commander-in-Chief, the President does have a duty to protect and defend the United States,” Obama continued. “In instances of self-defense, the President would be within his constitutional authority to act before advising Congress or seeking its consent. History has shown us time and again, however, that military action is most successful when it is authorized and supported by the Legislative branch.”

Re: Obama Dismisses 'Fuss' About Libya Battle

The credibility of the rebel forces in Libya has been thrown into doubt after the shock assassination of a top military commander led to claims that the movement is enmeshed in a bloody internal feud.

Increasing evidence has begun to emerge that the savage killings of General Abdel Fatah Younes and two other senior officers – who were shot and whose bodies were burnt – may have been carried out by their own side.

The news of the deaths led to outbreaks of violence in the opposition capital, Benghazi, yesterday, with troops loyal to the General and members of the large and powerful tribe to which he belonged, the Obeidis, vowing retribution.

Re: Obama Dismisses 'Fuss' About Libya Battle

Originally Posted by krickitt

Lots of bad guys in the world.. but he chooses Libya.. what did he just say a few days ago about drones being so great?? Yeah.. he finds his ways around getting Congressional approval (We The People).. cap and trade goes to EPA, Dream Act sneaks in through ICE.. now war is apparently not war that needs to go before Congress if there are no boots on the ground... bombing all over the place.. Yemen, now Somalia today... I know what's with this guy. He is so full of himself he does what he wants any way he has to do it. Total disrespect for We The People, his own Generals, he is answering to a different boss. High degree globalist, never lets his feet (ideology) touch the ground here in the USA if he can avoid it... I could go on all day, but that is as close as I can get to staying on topic..